Texas Tech football alums: Patrick Mahomes to grace Madden cover for second time

For further proof that Texas Tech football alum Patrick Mahomes has this world by the tail, consider that on Thursday it was announced that he will be gracing the cover of the popular EA Sports Madden NFL video game for the second time in three years.  This year, he’ll share the honor with Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady who bested Mahomes and his Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 in February.

The idea of having dual cover boys is a nod to Brady Being the greatest QB of all time and Mahomes being the greatest quarterback of right now.  And Brady certainly recognizes Mahomes’ brilliance.

"“He’s got a very, very bright future ahead with huge expectations and I think so highly of him,” Brady said of Mahomes while speaking to Jori Epstein of USA Today Sports.  “I know he’ll accomplish whatever goals he really sets out to achieve.”"

Of course, the last time that the two QBs were on the field together, it was a one-sided affair.  Playing behind a patchwork offensive line and facing the best defensive line in football, Mahomes had one of his worst days as a QB at any level of the sport.  He completed 26 of 49 passes for just 270 yards while being picked off twice and failing to lead his team to the endzone in a 31-9 defeat.

But considering that on virtually every pass attempt, Mahomes was under significant duress, it’s amazing that he was able to put up the numbers that he did that night.  On the other hand, Brady had no problems with the Kansas City defense.

In one of the more efficient performances in Super Bowl history, Brady completed 21 of 29 passes for 201 yards and three TDs.  While his yardage number was far from record-setting, he was in complete command of the game and never seemed uncomfortable as the Cheifs were unable to apply the same level of pressure on Brady that the Buccaneers put on Mahomes.

More from Wreck'Em Red

• Texas Tech football: Red Raider fans need to know about these Mountaineers
• Texas Tech football: Red Raiders land first commit for class of 2025
• Texas Tech football: Why have the Red Raiders struggled on the road under McGuire?
• Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 title
• Texas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives

It was a disappointing game in the sense that everyone was looking forward to a shootout between the game’s two best quarterbacks.  That never materialized as Brady easily won his seventh Super Bowl title, by far the most by any quarterback.

But while Mahomes has a ways to go to surpass what Brady has accomplished, what he’s already managed to do in his brief three-year stint as a starter is nothing short of remarkable.  Since taking over the reins in K.C. he has been to two Super Bowls (winning Super Bowl 54 and earning the MVP honors) and an AFC Championship game.

Of course, in that AFC title game following the 2018 season Mahomes was again bested by Brady but that time, we all got the shootout that we wanted.  In a game that went to overtime, Mahomes passed for 295 yards and three TDs but was outshined by Brady’s 348 yards as the New England Patriots took down the Chiefs 37-31 in a game that saw Mahomes fail to get his hands on the football in the overtime period.

Madden 22 is set for release sometime in August and many Texas Tech football fans will be eager to get their hands on the latest version of a game that for decades has helped get us through the summer months until real football starts in September.  But with the way his career is unfolding, there’s no reason to think this will be the last time Mahomes is on the Madden cover.